Method of lasting shoes



March 21, 1939. R. DE Llso 2,150,892

METHOD OF LASIING SHOES Oi'iginal Filed May 25, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. R/Il PH DELI ATTORNEY.

METHQD OF LASTING SHOES March 21; '1939.

Original Filed May 25, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 21,1939. R. DE 1.1502,150,892

METHOD OF LASTING $HOES Original Filed May 25, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. fT/ll Pb [75! 0 ATTORNEY.

March 21, 1939. R DE L150. 2,150,892

METHOD OF LASTING snoas Original Filed May 25, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. EAL Pb 01'' l 0 ATTORNEY.

. METHOD OF LA'STING SHOES Original Filed May 25, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. IP41 PH 051/5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF LASTINGSHOES Ralph De Liso, Brooklyn, N. Y.

2 Claims.

This application is a division of my prior application Ser. No. 727,416,filed May 25, 1934.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of cemented shoes andmore particularly to an improved process of securing the marginalportions of the upper materials, hereinafter referred to as the upper,to the insole in overlying relation thereto.

In the manufacture of shoes in which the mar- 0 ginal portions of theupper are secured by an adhesive in overlying relation to the insole,the upper is lasted and the marginal portions thereof are first securedto the insole temporarily by tacks or similar fasteners. Subsequentlythe tacks 1.3 are removed, an adhesive is applied to said marginalportions, and then a large number of tacks is driven in, usually by anigger head progressive type lasting machine, to secure said marginalportions to the insole and to hold the upper in lasted relation untilthe adhesive is set and a good adhesive bond between the upper andinsole is obtained, after which the tacks are removed.

One object of the present invention is to eliminate the use of tacks orsimilar fasteners, after the application of the adhesive, particularlyat the opposite sides of the marginal portion of the upper between thetoe-end and heel-end portions of the shoe, for holding the upper inlasted relation and for securing said side marginal portions to theinsole until the adhesive has set.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for holdingthe marginal portions of the upper, after the application of theadhesive, in firm engagement with the insole until the adhesive has set.

A further object is to provide means for disposing the marginal portionsof the upper, after the application of the adhesive, in smoothengagement' with the insole and for drawing said portions tightlyinwardly in overlying relation to the insole.

Heretofore in the manufacture of cemented shoes as described above itwas necessary in the case of shoes, particularly ladies shoes, havingspaced portions, such a straps in shoe of the sandal type, to mark onthe insole the positions of the marginal portions of the spaced upperportions or straps with respect to the insole to enable the shoemaker torestore said marginal portions in their proper lasted positions on theinsole after the tacks are removed and the adhesive is applied.

Another object of the invention is to hold the spaced upper portions orstraps in proper position during the removal of the tacks and theapplication of the adhesive, as Well as during the time required for thecement to set or until the marginal portions or said upper portions:become firmly bonded to the insole, thereby maintaining the upper at alltimes; in proper lasted relation and eliminating the necessity formarking the insole.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding theupper in lasted relation during the removal of the tacks and theapplication of the adhesive.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate or to greatly minimizeshoe damages due to staining of the shoe uppers by the cement employedin making cemented shoes and by handling the shoe.

A further object is to provide a method of and apparatus foraccelerating the lasting of cemented shoes.

A yet further object is generally to improve the art of manufacturingcemented shoes.

For a complete understanding of the invention reference is to be had tothe following description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lasting unit, showing parts thereofout of normal position, for the sake of clearness in illustration;

Figure 2 is a side view of the lasting unit;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of a lasting unit, with parts omitted;

Figures 5 and '7 are viewed, more or less diagrammatic, illustratingsteps in the present method;

Figure 8 is a perspective View with parts omitted, of a multi-unitapparatus;

Figure 9 is a top plan, view, more or less diagrammatic, of a multi-unitlasting apparatus.

According to the present invention, in making cemented shoes, the upperA is lasted and temporarily secured to an insole S on a last L bytemporary fastening means, such as tacks t which engage the marginalupper portions a at the shoe bottom overlying the insole S, asillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5. The tacks may be applied inany suitable way, but I prefer to apply the tacks at the heel and toeportions of the shoe on a bed lasting machine and to apply the tacks atthe marginal side portions of the upper, i. e., the portions between theheel and toe portions of the upper, by an ordinary hammer. After theupper is thus lasted, it is clamped to the and toe portions of the shoe.

sides of the last, adjacent the last bottom, by means of a clamp hereshown as side-clamps III, as illustrated in Figure 6. Then, while theupper is thus clamped and held in position in lasted relation, the tacksare removed from the marginal side portions of the upper between the toeand heel portions thereof or, in other words, the marginal side portionsof the upper are released while the rest of the upper is held in lastedrelation by the side-clamps H] and by the tacks at the heel Then theinner surfaces of the marginal. side portions a of the upper areroughened and rendered adhesive, by

applying a suitable wet adhesive, such as Cellu.

loid cement, or by conditioning a previously applied adhesive bytreating thesame with heat and/or a solvent therefor to render the sametacky, after which said side portions of the upper are pressed againstthe insole in overlying relationthereto, as shown in Figure 7 by meansof clamp-wipers which engage the marginal side portions a, wipe themsmoothly, and draw them tightly toward each other over the insole wherethey are held until the cement has set. This method of lasting cementedshoes will be described more in detail in the course of the followingdescription of the apparatus, which is preferably employed in performingthis method, but it will be understood that other tools and devices maybe employed in performing the steps of this method. 7

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a lasting unit comprisinga'frame or base l2'ha-ving a last jack l3 pivotally mounted at one endin brackets l4 and spring pressed downwardly at its other end by arather strong tension spring l5 secured to the last jack I3 and to theframe I2. A toe rest I6 is pivotally mounted at H on an upstanding post|8 secured to the base l2. Flat springs [Siare secured at opposite sidesof the bracket I8 and engage opposite sides of the toe rest 5 foryieldingly holding the latter in position. The last L, carrying the shoein the condition shown in Figure 5, is placed on the jack-pin |3a withthe forward vamp portion of the shoe in engagement with the toe rest I6,which has a curvaturecorresponding to said vamp portion. The tensionspring |5 exerts a strongpressure on the jack l3 and thereby holdspurpose there are provided bars or shafts 20 supported at their ends inbrackets 2| secured to the base I2. For operating the side clamps I0, acentral sleeve 22 is pivotally mounted on each of the shafts 20 and isprovided with an inwardly directed plate 23 to which are adjustablysecured, in spaced relation, upwardly extendingarms 24 and 25 securelyconnected at their upper ends to the side clamps l0, preferably by balland socket connections 26. are provided with lower threaded portions 21which pass through openings in the sleeve plates 23 and are engagedbynuts 28 on opposite sides of the plates 23 whereby to secure the arms24 and 25 releasably in adjusted position. The sleeves 22 are providedwith threaded bosses 29 to which are connected operating rods v3|] whichdepend from said bosses and are engaged at their The ends of the arms 24and 25.

lower ends by the slotted end portions 3| of the piston rods 32 of themotor Ml, which will be are connected to the clamp-wipers ll, preferablyby ball and socket connections 4|. The sleeve plates 34 are providedwith threaded bosses 42 which are engaged by rods depending therefromand engaging the slotted ends 44 of the piston rods 45 of the motor M2which is of the same construction as motor MI.

In Figure 1, the motors M-| and M2 and the associated parts areshown'displaced from normal position for the sake of clearness of theillustration. The normal position of said motors and associated parts isshown in Figures 2 and 3 from which it will be seen that the motors aremounted on the under surface of the frame l2 and preferably do notextend below the legs |2a of said frame. As the motors Ml and M2 foractuating the clamp mechanisms are of the same construction, only motorMl will be described in detail.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the motor comprises a cylinder 46 having acentrally disposed combined inlet and outlet port 41. The pistons 48 aremoved away from each other against the springs 49 by the pressure of themotive fluid admitted through the port 41 and are moved toward eachother by said springs when the fluid pressure is released. Fluid motorsand compressed air for operating the motors are preferred, but othermotors and other motive fluids may be used. An air pipe 50 is connectedat one end to the port 41 in each motor and is provided at its oppositeend with a check-valve 5| which is normally closed and which may beopened by inward movement of the valve stem 52. This valve is of a wellknown type commonly used on the inner tubes of vehicle tires and needsno further description. At predetermined times during the operation ofthe apparatus compressed air is admitted to the'pipes 50 from a suitabletank (not shown) through an automatic nozzle 53 (Fig. 4) which isbrought into engagement with the valve 5| for this purpose. The nozzle53 is of the type commonly used at air service stations for supplyingair to vehicle tires. As will be readily understood, without furtherdescription, this nozzle comprises a valve which is normally closed andwhich is opened when thenozzle is brought into engagement with the valvestem 52. At predetermined times during the operation of the apparatus,the compressed air will be exhausted from the motors M--| and M2 byopening the valves 5| which is accomplished by moving the valve stems 52inwardly. The admission and exhaust of compressed air or other motivefluid may be accomplished automatically at the proper times during theoperation of the apparatus, as will subsequently appear.

In operating the above described apparatus, in performing the method ofthe present invention thelasted shoe inthe condition illustrated inFigure 5 is placed on the support in which position. it

is held securely by the spring l5. At this time, the side clamps l andthe clamp-wipers II are in the position shown, out of engagement withthe shoe as illustrated in full lines in Figure and in dotted lines inFigure 3 with the motor pistons 48 of both motors and the actuatingarms. 24, 25 and 35 in the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. Then,motive fluid is admitted to motor Ml to cause the rods 30 engaged by thepiston rods 32 to move the sleeve-plate 23 and the arms 24 and 25,thereby moving the side clamps l0 into operative position against thesides of the shoe in the position shown in Figure 6 and in full lines inFigure 3, the clamp-wipers I! being still out of engagement, orinoperative, as illustrated in Figure 6. The operator then removes thetacks from the marginal upper side portions a, lifts said portions aaway from the insole, as shown in Figure 6, and then roughens theirinner surfaces and applies the cement. Before removing the tacks theoperator may trim the inner edge portions of the marginal side portionsa. When a rand-insole is used, for example, such as that shown in thepatent to Sbicca No. 1,902,725, it is desirable to remove enough of saidedge portions to expose the insole rand whereby a direct adhesiveconnection between the insole and outsole is obtained when the latter isapplied and cemented in position. Then motive fluid is admitted to themotor M2 causing piston rods 45 to move the sleeve plates 34, the arms35, and rods 4!], thereby causing the clamp-wipers H to wipe over theupper portions a, turning them down into engagement with the insole inoverlying relation there to and pressing and holding them securelyagainst the insole, as illustrated in Figure '7. The sideclamps Hi andthe clamp-wipers H are maintained in clamping relation until the cementhas set or until a good adhesive bond is secured between the upper andthe insole, after which the motive fluid is released from both motors Mland M2, to permit the springs 49 to move the clamp actuating arms 24, 25and 35 and the clamps actuated thereby to inoperative position. Thelasted shoe is then removed from the support, and the shoe may becompleted as usual.

The side-clamps [0 have rubber coverings Illa. to protect the materialsof the upper en aged by these clamps against damage. The clamp wipers IIare roughened or corrugated as indicated at Ha to cause said member togrip the material and force it smoothly over the insole. It will beobserved that the clamps I0 and I I conform generally to the curvatureof the shoe at the portions engaged thereby and, as here shown, saidclamps extend only between the heel and toe portions which, aspreviously described, are maintained in lasted relation by the tacksapplied on the bed lasting machine. The rods 40 which are secured to theclamp-wipers Il may be adjusted in the sleeves 38 so as to obtainsufficient movement of the clamp-wipers il transversely of the lastbottom to cause said wipers to properly tension the marginal sideportions a and move them inwardly over the last bottom smoothly over theinsole.

It will be understood that in lieu of the pneumatic motors, I may employother means, such as suitably actuated cam mechanisms operated by one ormore electric motors, for actuating the clamp operating mechanisms, butI prefer to use motors of the type shown, more particularly be causethis type of motor facilitates the regulation of the pressure exerted bythe clamping meme bers on the portions of the lasted shoe engagedthereby. Also, in clamping the sides of the shoe upper by the clamps l 0before removing the tacks t to permit the release of the side marginalportions 11, it is desirable to make certain that the side clamps are infirm engagement with the sides of the upper, so that the latter will beheld securely when the tacks t are removed and that the upper issmoothly positioned on the last before the clamps are fully operated.This can be accomplished by admitting enough air to move the clamps intoa preliminary operative engagement with the shoe so that their positionand the condition of the upper on the last can be observed before theside clamps are fully operated, If the upper is smooth on the last andthe side clamps in proper relation thereto, more air can then beadmitted to move the side clamps to final operative position.

In Figure 8 there is shown a multi-unit lasting apparatus associatedwith a conveyor and means under the control of the operator foroperating the conveyor and the several lasting units. As here shown, theconveyor comprises a flexible endless conveyor belt B, which passes overend pulleys P, as will be readily understood, although only one of saidpulleys is shown. The conveyor belt B may be operated in, any suitableway, as by an electric motor (not shown) connected to the shaft of oneof the pulleys P. Said belt B carries, secured thereto, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced metal plates 54 each of which constitutes asupport or securing means for a lasting unit such as that shown inFigures 1 to 4 described above. For this purpose the base l2 of thelasting unit is provided with lugs I2b for engagement by the hooks 55 onthe plates 54, although any other securing devices may be employed. Theupper tract of the belt B passes over longitudinally extending flanges56 on the side rails 51 of the frame of the apparatus, and said plates54 overlap said flanges whereby said plates have a rigid bearing thereonwhen the belt is at rest. The air supply nozzle 53, which is of the sametype as the nozzle 53 shown in Figure 2, is mounted for movement,through an opening 58 in the side rail 51', toward and away from thevalve 51 on the lasting unit. For the purpose, said nozzle is connectedto an air pipe 59 which is slidable in a stationary bracket 63 and isconnected to a flexible air supply pipe 6|. The pipe 59 is moved by alink 62 pivotally mounted on the bracket 60 and is connected at itsupper end to said pipe by a pivotal connection 63 and at its lower endby a pivotal connection 54 to a link 95 which is connected to one arm 66of a bell crank lever that is fixedly secured to a rotary shaft 61. Theother arm 68 of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 69 to atreadle lever 76 to which a tension-spring H is connected. It will beunderstood that when the nozzle 53 and a valve 5| are in alignment, thenozzle 53 can be moved into engagement with the valve by actuating thetreadle 10, to supply compressed air or other motive fluid to one of themotors on the lasting unit, and that when the treadle I0 is released thespring ll will move the nozzle 53 to retracted position out ofengagement with the valve 5|.

For exhausting the air or other motive fluid from the motors Mi and M2on a lasting unit, there is provided a movable bar 12 carried by a rod.13 slidably mounted in, a bracket 74. A link 15 pivotally mounted on thebracket 14 has a pivotal connection 16 with the rod 13, and at its lowerend said link has a pivotal connection tor that drives the conveyor.

with a link 18 which is pivotally connected toa lever 19 fixedly securedto the shaft 61. Thus, when the foot treadle is operated to bring thenozzle 53 into engagement with a valve 5| on one lasting unit, the rod13 is simultaneously moved to bring the bar 12 into engagement with bothvalves 5| on another lasting unit thereby opening said valves, bypressing on the valve stems 52, and releasing the air from both motorson said unit. It will be understood, however, that, if desired, the bar12 may be operated independently of the nozzle 53, by any suitablemeans. Instead of fluid motors, electric motors and mechanisms actuatedthereby may be employed and circuit controllers may be provided forconnecting and disconnecting the motors to a source of electric powerinstead of to a source of motive fluid. Therefore, the fluid supplycomprising the nozzle 53' is to be considered illustrative of a powerstationfor the motors;

. It will be understood that the conveyor carries a'.plurality oflastingunits and that each lasting unit is broughtinto registry with the.motivefluid supply, comprising the nozzle 53', and with the motivefluidexhaust, comprising the bar 12. It will be understood further that eachlasting unit is carried intoa first position for .alignment of the valve5| of the motor M| with the nozzle 53' of themotive fluid supply, andsubsequently into a second position for alignment of the valve 5| of themotor M.-2 withsaid nozzle. This arrangement assures the operation ofthe motors in proper sequence, but in lieu of moving a lasting unit totwo positions for successive engagement of the nozzle 53 with each valve5| on a lasting thispurpose. the apparatus is provided with a switch 80which controls the circuit of the mo-' Said switch has a pivotedoperating. lever 8| which extends into the-path of each of twostopmembers 82 on the base |2 of each lastingunit. Each stop member 82 ispivotally mounted on a bracket 83 in position to engage the switchlever. 8|. [Each stop member is in position to engagethe switch lever tointerrupt the motor circuit to stop the conveyor in position to alignthe valve 5| with the nozzle 53'. It will be understood that the switchlever 8| may be biased to circuit-closing position whereby to close thecircuit automatically when the stop member 82 is retracted, as indicatedin dotted lines, to release the switch lever- .It will be observedthat-when a valve I5| of one lasting unit is aligned with the nozzle 53'for. engagement by the latter to supply motive fluid to the motor M-I,valves 5| on the adjacent unit are aligned with the bar 12 forengagement thereby for releasing the motive fluid from both motors onsaid unit. A manually-controlled switch 85 may be -provided,-if-desired,for starting and stopping the motor and the conveyor driven therebyindependently of the automatic switch 80. Circuit controllers orswitches suitable for the purposes of switches 80 and 85in the presentapparatus are well known and need no further description asthey are, perse, not part of the present invention. 7 v

In the. operation of the multi-unit lasting apparatus, assuming that alasting unit U| with a shoe thereon has arrived at the fluid supply po--sition illustrated and the conveyor is, therefore, at rest, the operatorperforms the operations on the shoe as described above in connectionwith valve 5| of the motor M-2 is in alignment with,

the nozzle 53 when the companion stop member 82 engages the switchlever8| to. interrupt the motor circuit and. stop the conveyor. .The treadle70 is then operated to bring the nozzle 53' into engagement with the.valve 5| of the .motor M2 to actuate the. clamp-wipersl and after saidclamps H are brought into proper position the treadle is released. Thelasting unit U| is then moved out of the fluid supply position and itsplace is taken by the following lastingunit.

U2 and the above described lasting operations are performed on the shoecarried by this unit.

Similarly, each unit is carried to the fluid supply position and theshoe thereon is treated in the same way. Finally, as the conveyor isof'the endless type, U| arrives at the fluid release posion and duringthe travel of said unit from the fluid supply position to the fluidexhaust position, the cement between the upper and the insole has setwhereby a good adhesive bond or permanent adhesive connection betweenthe upper and insole is obtained. The lasted shoe is then removed fromthe lasting unit for further treatment in the usual method of finishingthe shoe and another shoe is placed on said unit which is then carriedto the fluid supply position- In making cemented shoes, it is desirablethat the operator who applies the adhesive should handle the shoes aslittle as possible whereby to prevent staining of the uppers. The abovedescribed process eliminates a great deal of the handling of the shoe,which is necessary in prior methods, and handling of the shoe by theoperator who applies the ,cement can be further reduced in a practicalmanner by limiting his duties to the application of the cement and theactuation of the apparatus to operate the clampwipers Thus, one operatorat one position can exhaust the air from a lasting unit, in its finalposition, remove the shoe therefrom, insert a new shoe, actuate the sideclamps, remove the tacks and roughen the upper to condition it for thecement. Then the second operator can apply the cement and actuate theclamp-wipers. This may be accomplished on a multi-lasting apparatus ofthe type shown in Figure 8 by providing said apparatus with twofluid-supply positions spaced from each other by a'plurality of, sayfour lasting units, as illustrated inFigure 9, at MA and MB. At positionMA, the first operator performs his dutiesas described above, andmotive-fluid is supplied preferably only to motor M-|, and at positionMB, the second operator performs his duties and motive fluid is suppliedpreferably only to motor M2, the nozzle 53 at station MA being sopositioned as to be in alignment only with the valve of motor M-l whenthe conveyor is brought to rest by engagement of the stop member 82 withthe switch lever 8| of the switch 80A and the nozzle 53' at station MBbeing so positioned as to be in alignment only with the valve of motorM-2 when the conveyor is brought to rest by engagement of the stopmember 82 with the switch lever 8i of the switch 803. In this apparatusonly one stop member is provided on each lasting unit. The switches 80Aand 89B may be of the same construction as the switch 88 in Figure 8,but it is desirable to subject the operation of one switch to thecontrol of the other switch. For this purpose switches 80A and 80B arein series circuit relation so that the switch at one station cannot beoperated to start the conveyor until the operator at the other stationcloses the switches at his station. Switches and circuit controllerssuitable for this purpose are well known and further description isunnecessary as they are, per se, not part of the present invention. Asuitable signal, such as a lamp 86 may be provided at station MA toinform the first operator when the operator at station MB has finishedwith the lasting unit at his station so that the conveyor can beoperated to bring the next lasting unit to his position. Said lamp 8'!may be operated under the control of the switch 803 so as to light whensaid switch is closed. A similar lamp under the control of switch 80Amay be located at station MB. Thus, when a last unit has arrived atstation MB and has opened switch 803, the conveyor will remain at restand cannot be moved until the operator has released the switch leverfrom the stop member on the lasting unit and until the operator atstation MA has released the switch lever of switch 80A from the stopmember on the lasting unit at station MA. When both switches thusreleased are closed, the conveyor will start and carry another lastingunit to each station.

It is to be understood that the herein disclosed apparatus, whilepreferred in the practice of the present invention and whilecontributing to the results accomplished by the present method, is notexhaustive of the instrumentalities which may be availed of inpracticing this method, and

other devices may be substituted in whole or in part for this apparatusor certain parts only thereof may be used as may be found desirable ornecessary in performing the several steps of the method. It will beunderstood also that, unless otherwise specified, the steps of themethod need not be performed in precisely the order in which they arerecited, and that unless otherwise specified one or more steps may beperformed without the others or with the equivalent of the specificsteps which may be omitted. Finally, it is to be understood that thepresent invention is not to be limited by the preceding specificdisclosure as to the specific construction of the shoe, the method oftreating the same, or the apparatus herein disclosed, except as may berequired by the appended claims and the prior art.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. The method of making shoes which comprises first lasting the upperand temporarily securing the marginal side portions thereof at the shoebottom on a last, positioning said last and upper assembly at onestation, clamping the sides of the upper, then releasing said marginalside portions and rendering them adhesive while holding the upperclamped against the sides of the last, moving said assembly to anotherstation, and then wiping said marginal side portions of the upper overthe shoe bottom in engagement therewith to permanently adhesively unitesaid marginal side portions to the shoe bottom, and releasing theclamped portion of the upper.

2. The method of making shoes which comprises first lasting the upperand temporarily securing the marginal side portions thereof at the shoebottom on a last, positioning said last and upper assembly at onestation, clamping the sides of the upper, then releasing said marginalside portions and rendering them adhesive while holding the upperclamped against the sides of the last, moving said assembly to anotherstation, and then simultaneously wiping said marginal side portions ofthe upper over the shoe bottom in engagement therewith to permanentlyadhesively unite said marginal side portions to the shoe bottom, andreleasing the clamped portion of the upper.

RALPH DE L180

